Hundreds of families in Romania can now grow a wide range of vegetables thanks to a Teesside aid charity.

Dedicated aid worker Rod Jones and his wife Gabriela recently returned from their latest mercy mission to eastern Europe, where they handed out cupfuls of vegetable seeds to poverty-stricken families in north-east Romania.

This was the second tanker full of seeds the couple had taken to the country.

During the two trips they have travelled the distance of England to America in a bid to reach every single family, handing out over nine tonnes of seeds, donated by Teesside school children.

Rod, 58, said: "Our aim was to give every single family in the region a cup of seeds.

"All you see out there is corn on the cob, with families living off maize and cornflour. But now they can grow cabbages, carrots, turnips, a whole range of things.

"It's hard to imagine over here what the seeds meant to them. But the reaction was incredible. We would have over 100 people gathering round the van. People were kissing our hands and crying."

Rod set up Convey Aid 15 years ago after a trip to Romania in memory of his son, who died in a car crash. He had been registered to volunteer in Romania, so his devastated dad went in his place.

Over more than a decade he has taken everything from seeds to artificial limbs, as well as campaigning to help sick children.

Another lorry load of aid was due to leave today, Wednesday, September 20.